Iranian scientists develop world’s first living skin model with blood supply

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Two Iranian researchers at the University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia have successfully engineered the world’s first living skin model containing its own blood supply, marking a major milestone in regenerative medicine.

The achievement, made at UQ’s Frazer Institute, was led by Dr. Abbas Shafiee and Professor Kiarash Khosrotehrani, who used stem cells to create human-like skin complete with blood vessels, capillaries, nerves, hair follicles, tissue layers, and immune cells. 

According to the university, no other laboratory model worldwide has reached this level of complexity, as reported by Mehr News.

“This is the most life-like skin model developed anywhere, which will allow us to study diseases and test treatments with far greater accuracy,” Dr. Shafiee said. 

He noted that researchers have long faced limitations in studying skin diseases and designing therapies, but the breakthrough paves the way for more effective treatment development.

The scientists said the innovation could transform clinical applications, particularly for treating severe burns, inflammatory skin conditions, and improving skin graft transplants. 

Disorders such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, scleroderma, and genetic skin diseases are among those expected to benefit.

Professor Khosrotehrani emphasized that the model’s integration of vascular structures makes it uniquely suited for therapeutic use. 

“Having a living skin model that mimics natural conditions will not only advance medical research but also provide better treatment outcomes for patients,” he explained.

The project was conducted in collaboration with Metro North Health and built on recent advances in stem cell technology that allowed the team to produce three-dimensional lab-grown skin.